Africa music reviews

"Live in Amsterdam" is one of Fela's best albums with Egypt 80. Unlike most titles in the MCA reissue series, this one is not two albums on one CD, but is instead three songs and nearly 80 minutes of music from a November 28, 1983 concert in Amsterdam. While some of Fela's material with Egypt 80 can be too keyboard driven for my tastes, here the band grooves like classic Afrika 70 -- multi-layered percussion, funky rhythms and intricate horn play. This is not only one of Fela's best live albums (I prefer it easily to "VIP" -- see my review), but I would rank it along with "Original Sufferhead" and "Beasts of No Nation" as his best efforts from the 1980s. Of course, all of the Fela reissues are really indispensable, and you should get them while you can.

This is a beautifully produced live recording of Tito Paris and his band. This album is a great listen and I can tell from the first time I heard it that I will be listening to it a lot. Wonderful, diverse, and dynamic, this album is full of energetic rhythms and very upbeat - I highly recommend this CD!

In my opinion, the best soukous recording ever. The vocal harmonys, guitar work and driving rhythms are amazing. A must have for anyone interested in this genre of music and also for those who are not. (I always go to this CD when I try to introduce a soukous novice to "God's music".) Can't give this CD too much praise. Buy it!

If you are into reagae and international music, this is the one! The artist, Aster, is very talented, energetic and sounds great in expressing her native African culture in all of her songs. Did I mentioned she is very attractive and beutiful?

If you are a musician, you won't regret it. But if you like Madonna ? Skip, Skip

"A Ma Zone" THE FIRST VERSION is one of the best CDs ever made. My saddness was when I ordered some of these as gifts and found out that the new version is NOT AS GOOD :(

The second version has another song first, insteaad of Rafiki. But the worst part is that the second version sound quality is really muffled and bad.

Does anyone have a copy of the original version of this CD, the one that has "Rafiki" as its first track, that they would sell???

This is the third excellent review that I have given a Zap Mama Cd. If you listen to one of her cds, you will be 'Zapped' and want to check out her other cds. She is consistent in combining super R&B/funk with music and sounds from all over the world. She is SO VERY CONSISTENT IN MAKING GOOD, ORIGIONAL, CREATIVE SONGS that you don't get sick of hearing after 2 or 3 times. TIGHT..TIGHT..TIGHT CD....PEACE.

I bought this CD a couple years ago, but didn't really start listening to it until recently. This CD gets lumped in with "world" music because of its african feel, but this is a slight misnomer. Most people who think of "world" music think of something that should be a soundtrack on National Geographic Explorer. This is so much more than that. All of the instrumentation contained in this album give you an idea of the talent involved, and the songs each have their own mood. I enjoy the lyrical stylings of "Rafiki" and the high-flying vocals and moodiness "My Own Zero". Worth every penny!

Akendengwe creates his own afro-pop that is very different from popular soukous, mbalax. His music is a pure listening pleasure and this album may be the perfect introduction to it. The recording is fantastic. I like to sit and enjoy this album just like I do with some nice classical music. Akendengwe's work is a wonderful mix of modern and traditional instruments, beautiful female choir and good warm voice of his own. This album was an ear-opener for me to a different dimension of afro-pop. Akendengwe's music is different but is as good as Youssou N'Dour's. The album contains 12 songs and is 60 minutes long.

Allow me to be very brief and precise. There is the African saying that says too many words normally bore the listeners.
Pierette is one hell of an artist who has sprung from outer space. Her composition of the releases are so well coordinated that one falls short of words. Her songs are not boring. She lets out some of those rare sounds that one would like to be associated with. The effects that the songs have on one can easily be observed. Each of her songs tells a story about life generally. This CD is more than just relaxing music. It puts you in the mood. Its difficult to single out a particular song as the best. Pierette Adams is unmatched in the field.

Malian music is some of the best music you will run across in Africa. The enchanting sounds of the kora takes you back to the once great empire of Mali. The empire beside egypt was one of the richest empires in Africa. Jelis or griots as the western world knows them still tell the tales of the great sunjata to mansa musa. The cd ecompasses on a mgacial journey and on empires that once were and still live in the imnds and hearts of the fabric of time. I recommend anybody interested into learning about Mali and the mende people pick up this cd.

C'est le retour du reggae de la cote d'ivoire. Apres Alpha Blondy, Tiken Jah Fokoly est a d�couvrir absolument.